Tires LT 225/75R16 load range E

Just replaced the Michelins that were replaced on the recall several years ago. One of those replacements had a tread separation that I caught and the rest flatspotted and would not recover. They also showed the Michelin weather checking. So I am not that sold on Michelins. Anyway, I got Nexen Roadian CT8 tires that cost way less and have a much higher load rating with only 3 psi more. Got 'em at Discount. They run quiet, smooth and so far no issues.

I replaced my OEM Michelin LTS MS tires at about 30,000 miles, five years age, because of sidewall cracking. I replaced them with Michelin XPS Rib (not an all season tire) to get the heaviest-duty tire in that size and rating. Those cost me about $270 each almost 10 years ago, have not priced them lately. They are somewhat noisier than the OEM, ringing on expansion joints, and more tread noise on grooved or roughened concrete surfaces.

Earlier this month I replaced the OEM Michelin LTS MS2 tires on my E-350 van (same size and load rating) at 54,000 miles, six years of age, because the rear tires were getting down to the wear bars on center ribs (front still had about 1/3 tread left). Replacement was Bridgestone Dueler H/T (Bridgestone also makes/sells a similar Firestone Transforce HT2) which I got for about $140 each after Spring Tire Sale discount and trade-in allowance on the two still useful tires). I really liked the LTS MS2 tires, but Michelin has replaced them with a different model. I turns out I like the Bridgestones even better, much less tread noise on most highway surfaces. Can't say much about traction yet, I've just started to break the in, running a few hundred miles to scuff parting compounds off the tread.

There are a lot of other options, including Goodyear's Wrangler H/T, commercial grade tires from Goodyear and Bridgestone (market equivalent of Michelin XPS and just as expensive), lower cost tires from Michelin's BFG brand (Commercial T/A, I think), and many other brands, including obscure imports. This is a popular tire size for medium-duty trailers and local and regional deliver trucks, and some agricultural equipment. This means a wide range of options, differing compromises of cost vs performance needs.

I found the following info because I have run Coopers on 5 of my vehicles.
I did my best to research it.

I think the truck tires are now made in USA again .

Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Co. China (since 1958) had produced about 300,000/year in a 2003 deal. They experienced tread separation which resulted in deaths in the U.S.

"* In 2003, Zhongce sealed a deal with U.S. manufacturer Cooper Tire and Rubber Co. to make 250,000-350,000 radial medium-truck tires a year. That deal ended in 2007".

I "think" Cooper tires used to be made in the U.S. ... are they still?

Last year I had this same conundrum, and went with Cooper Discoverer HT3's. Have about 10k miles on them and no complaints. If I'd done Michelins it would have been me and a friend doing the swap while busting and balancing all 6 in his shop garage. I got the Coppers for less money installed by a tire store than us doing the labor buying from TireRack. Very similar tread pattern to the old Michelin LTX's, but with solid ribs on the outsides.

I replace every 5 years, which is about 40k miles.

I agree, the tires I just replaced were 7 to 10 years old. Not sure where the 5 year rule came from.

There is a local (not sure if Fed or Prov law) that tire shops can't repair a tire over ten years old. I found that out last year with the 1991 C we got that later had a nail in a back tire episode. They would not even use my spare, saying it was over ten. Had to get four new tires at the back (my choice instead of just one new one)

IMO a certain amount of common sense should apply rather than a dogmatic replace at 5 years. Those guys that put bags over their tires when parked must be thinking that. (But having a bag over your ten + year old spare won't help around here unless you do the tire replacement job yourself :) )

Michelin recommends yearly inspections after 5 years and replacement at 10 years for their entire line. They have a detailed write up here:
https://www.michelinman.com/US/en/help/do-I-need-new-tires.html

Our C rides on commercial grade all-steel cased Bridgestone Duravis tires and are about 5.5 years old. Not sure how long we will keep them, perhaps 8 years. Looking at the Bridgestone Duravis R238 as a replacement when the day comes.

Had the tires inspected and had one dismounted while looking for a slow leak. Perfect condition inside and out (suspect TPMS sensor for slow leak).

Hang in there Ron!

I personally feel that there's a bit of a fear factor that's common regarding RV tire life - which nicely helps the bottom line of tire manufacturers. Probably a lot of this comes from the TT and 5'er RV world - which does scare me because of the extreme loads that their small diameter and high-rotational-speed tires have to tolerate from the extra heat generated via sidewall flexing. Of course sometimes only four tires on the TTs and 5'ers ... instead of our six Class C tires ... are having to carry the load and absorb the sidewall-flex heating.

Since Michelin has changed the material formulation of their common LT Load Range E RV tires (now called their "Defender" line), it looks like their premature sidewall cracking problem has been solved.

Our Class C's Michelins are probably coming up on five years this year and like your even older tires, show no signs at all of "being old". I run a full 80 lbs. in the rear to keep heating at a minimum back there.

FWIW, my 4X4 pickup's tires are 10-12 years old and sill have gobs of tread left and no sidewall cracking or bulges, but they are a large diameter to minimize rotational speed, and about the heaviest loads they carry is only around 1/2 cubic yards of quarry rocks in the bed or the tongue weight of a loaded horse trailer. This truck sits out in the weather all the time - and it's paint job looks far older than it's tires.

Other than dry rot and the sun's UV rays, it's sidewall flexing and the subsequent generated heat that ruins tires ... and I'm thinking that the generated heat from travel may be the worst.

All IMHO, of course.

Desert Captain wrote:
Ron,

While we agree on most things your continued use of 11+ year-old tires gives me the willies... I know you know better. Your operating load and storage conditions in no way mitigate the fact that tires time out. I hope I am wrong but IMHO: yours are a disaster just waiting to happen.

Given the critical interface between your rig and the road which = "tires' I cannot imagine pushing the envelope much less to such an extreme. I wish you luck but obviously you have already had your share...

But enough thread drift, go buy a new set of Michelins! :S

As always... Opinions and YMMV.

:B

All is well between us Desert Captain!

I knew I had it coming while writing that my tires are turning 12 years old this spring. I hope you and all the rest of the gang understand that I am not trying to convince everyone to run their motor home tires anywhere near as long as I do. I am "extreme" in that regard and know it so, so much to the point of my embarrassment in mentioning it. But my storage situation is also out of the ordinary. I found it interesting that my garage smelled like new tires for the first seven years, the aroma specifically coming from the motor home. Maybe I am 4 to 5 years over-due.